Serum testosterone levels correlate with haemoglobin in middle-aged and older men

• Published in: Internal medicine journal Vol. 39; no. 8; pp. 532 - 538
• Main Authors: Yeap, B. B., Beilin, J., Shi, Z., Knuiman, M. W., Olynyk, J. K., Bruce, D. G., Milward, E. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01.08.2009
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anemia - blood; Anemia - diagnosis; Cross-Sectional Studies; free testosterone; haemoglobin; Hemoglobins - metabolism; Humans; Hypogonadism - blood; Hypogonadism - diagnosis; Male; men; Middle Aged; Sex Factors; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin - metabolism; testosterone; Testosterone - blood; Testosterone - physiology
• ISSN: 1444-0903; 1445-5994
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2008.01789.x

Background: Lower testosterone levels are associated with anaemia in older men and women. The relation between testosterone and haemoglobin (Hb) in younger and middle‐aged men is less well defined. The aim of the study was to examine the association between testosterone and Hb levels in men spanning middle to older ages. Methods: A cross‐sectional analysis of 492 men aged 30.7–94.5 years from the Busselton Health Survey, Western Australia, was carried out. Haemoglobin (Hb), early‐morning serum total testosterone and sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG) were measured. Free testosterone was calculated using mass action equations. Results: Haemoglobin correlated to total and free testosterone concentrations (r= 0.13, P= 0.003 and r= 0.20, P < 0.001, respectively). Hb and SHBG were inversely correlated (r=−0.14, P= 0.001). Hb increased across lowest to highest quartiles of total testosterone (P= 0.02) and free testosterone (P < 0.001), but not SHBG. After adjusting for age, waist circumference, smoking status, alcohol consumption, renal function and ferritin, total testosterone was associated with Hb (β= 0.037, P= 0.003) as was free testosterone (β= 2.32, P < 0.001), whereas SHBG was not associated. Conclusion: Testosterone concentration modulates Hb levels in community‐dwelling men across a wide age range. Further studies are needed to clarify implications of this association between testosterone and Hb in men.